What DB Life does

DB Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (DB생명), legally DB LIFE INSURANCE CO., LTD., is a South Korean life insurance company founded in 1989 (currently in its 37th fiscal year, FY2025) and headquartered at Teheran-ro 432, DB Financial Center, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The company is a subsidiary of DB Group (DB그룹), a diversified Korean conglomerate that also includes DB손해보험 (non-life), DB증권 (securities), DB자산운용 (asset management), and DB저축은행 (savings bank). DB Life sells life, health, cancer, dental, annuity, variable, and retirement pension products to individual consumers and corporate clients under its flagship '백년친구' (Hundred Year Friend) brand, previously operating as 동부생명 (Dongbu Life Insurance). It employs 501–1,000 staff and distributes via direct online (direct.idblife.com), mobile app, 24/7 ARS, a senior-dedicated call center (1566-5909 for ages 65+), an FP (Financial Planner) agent force, bancassurance partnerships with 10 major Korean banks, and credit-card-company insurance agents.

The company's core technology stack includes a cyber portal (사이버창구) for policy management, a mobile app, and the 'AI 라이프케어' (AI Life Care) platform — an AI-driven health coaching service that assesses policyholder 'health Grade group' and reduces premiums as customers demonstrate healthier behavior. This capability is embedded directly into newly launched products such as AI Life Care cancer insurance (May 2026) and AI Life Care term insurance (June 2026), as well as into the 생활비 암보험 High-5 cancer product (May 2026), which carries industry-first exclusive rights for long-term care grade upgrade benefits. DB Life also operates a dedicated retirement pension portal (pension.idblife.com) for corporate DC pension administration.

DB Life generates revenue through recurring insurance premiums across its product portfolio (whole life, term, health, cancer, dental, annuity, variable, pension savings) collected on monthly, annual, or single-payment schedules, supplemented by investment income earned on invested premium reserves. DB자산운용 (DB Asset Management), a group affiliate, manages 434,629 백만원 (KRW million) of DB Life variable insurance assets under a 23.25% delegation ratio as of June 2026, representing a significant intra-group capital allocation. The company is regulated by the Financial Supervisory Service and files quarterly and annual business reports, with disclosures published through Q1 2026. External validations include the 2023 Korean Management Awards Customer Satisfaction Honor Hall induction, Consumer-Centered Management (CCM) certification, and Information Communication Accessibility Quality certification.

Name

DB Life

Legal name

DB LIFE INSURANCE CO., LTD.

Website

https://idblife.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

DB Life (DB생명) is a South Korean life insurance company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Seoul, serving individual consumers and corporate clients with life, health, cancer, annuity, variable, and retirement pension products under the 백년친구 brand. It distributes via bancassurance, FP agents, direct online, and mobile channels, and is a subsidiary of DB Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Life Insurance

NAICS

Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers (52411), Direct Life Insurance Carriers (524113), Direct Health and Medical Insurance Carriers (524114)

SIC

Life Insurance (6311), Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Whole Life Insurance (FSAIABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Basic Group Term Life (Employer-Paid) (FSAIADAA), Participating (Dividend) Whole Life Insurance (FSAIABAI)

Keywords

• Life insurance products
• Whole life insurance
• Health insurance
• Retirement pensions
• Cancer insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Yeoksamdong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: DB생명 generates primary revenue through recurring insurance premiums paid by policyholders across its portfolio of life, whole life, health, accident, annuity, and retirement pension insurance products. Premiums are collected on monthly, annual, or single-payment schedules depending on product type.
2. Investment Income: Life insurance companies invest collected premiums in securities, bonds, loans, and other assets to generate investment returns, which contribute to overall revenue and enable policy payouts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DB Life (DB생명) is a South Korean life insurance company offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance and savings products, including whole life, term life, health/accident, cancer, dementia care, dental, annuity, retirement pension, and pension savings insurance. The company operates the "백년친구" (Hundred-Year Friend) brand portfolio and combines insurance coverage with AI-powered health coaching (AI 라이프케어), where premiums adjust based on policyholder health improvements. It distributes products through FP agents, bancassurance partnerships with major Korean banks, credit card insurance agents, direct online sales (direct.idblife.com), and a nationwide branch network.

Product overview

DB Life is a Korean life insurance company offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and financial services. The core product line is the '백년친구' (Hundred Year Friend) brand, which includes whole life insurance (백년친구 700), customizable health insurance (내가고른 건강보험), cancer insurance (암보험), and dementia care insurance (치매간병보험). The company has embraced AI technology with AI Life Care products that combine health coaching with insurance coverage, where premium rates adjust based on policyholder health improvements. Additional offerings include retirement pension plans (퇴직연금), pension savings (연금저축), variable insurance (변액보험), and dental insurance (치아보험). The company provides digital services through its 사이버창구 (cyber counter) online portal and ARS phone services, including specialized senior services through dedicated call centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DB Life Direct (DB생명다이렉트): Direct sales channel for purchasing insurance products online
• 백년친구 (Baeknyeon Chingoo)

Products and services

• AI Life Care Cancer Insurance (AI 라이프케어 암보험) Non-renewable cancer insurance product that combines AI-powered health coaching (AI Life Care) with cancer protection; premiums decrease as the policyholder's health Grade group improves. Targeted at individual consumers.
• AI Life Care Term Insurance (AI 라이프케어 정기보험) Term life insurance integrated with AI Life Care health coaching; premiums adjust based on the policyholder's health Grade group. Targeted at individual consumers.
• Hundred-Year Friend 700 Whole Life Insurance (백년친구 700 종신보험) Whole life insurance providing lifelong coverage for families with partial surrender value payment options, including the cancer treatment plus whole life variant (백년친구 700 암치료+ 종신보험, launched May 2025). For individual consumers.
• Hundred-Year Friend New Customizable Health Insurance (백년친구 New 내가고른 건강보험) Customizable comprehensive health insurance letting customers select only the coverage they need. Includes the simplified 335-disease variant (간편한 335 내가고른 건강보험 갱신형). For individual consumers.
• Hundred-Year Friend Worry-Free Cancer Insurance (백년친구 암걱정말아요 암보험) Cancer insurance from the Hundred-Year Friend product line with worry-free cancer coverage, available in standard and simplified (335) variants. For individual consumers.
• Hundred-Year Friend All-Care Dementia Caregiving Insurance (백년친구 올케어 치매간병보험) Comprehensive coverage for long-term care needs and dementia diagnosis, including industry's first exclusive usage rights for long-term care grade upgrade benefits (배타적 사용권). For individual consumers.
• Hundred-Year Friend Dementia Care Benefit Insurance (백년친구 치매간병비보험) Dementia care benefit insurance providing regular payments to policyholders diagnosed with dementia. For individual consumers.
• Hundred-Year Friend Living Expense Insurance (백년친구 생활비보험) Living expense insurance providing regular income benefits for policyholders facing health challenges. For individual consumers.
• Hundred-Year Friend Peace of Mind Insurance (백년친구 안심보험) Comprehensive life and health protection product from the Hundred-Year Friend line. For individual consumers.
• Truly Beneficial Dental Insurance (참 이로운 치아보험 갱신형) Dental insurance with renewal option covering dental procedures and treatments; distributed through credit card insurance agency channels including KB cards. For individual consumers.
• Value 7 Major Disease Health Insurance (실속N 7대질병 건강보험) Value-oriented health insurance covering 7 major diseases with a simplified enrollment process. For individual consumers.
• Retirement Pension (퇴직연금) Retirement pension products including corporate retirement insurance and Defined Contribution (확정기여형) pension plans for businesses. For corporate clients.
• Variable Insurance (변액보험) Variable insurance products with investment fund options allowing policyholders to participate in market performance; DB Asset Management manages 434,629 백만원 of variable insurance assets as of June 2026. For individual consumers.
• Pension Savings (연금저축) Pension savings insurance with tax benefits allowing annual contributions up to 4 million KRW with a 12% tax credit. For individual consumers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Insurance policyholders receive health Grade group assessments through AI health coaching, with healthier lifestyles rewarded through lower insurance premiums

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• DB자산운용coreTechnology or Integration · 30 June 2026DB자산운용 (DB Asset Management) manages 434,629 백만원 (KRW million) in variable insurance assets as of June 2026, representing a 23.25% delegation ratio for DB생명 variable insurance products. The partnership covers domestic equity (12.80% of variable assets), domestic bond (3.66%), and overseas bond (0.35%) fund management.
• DB그룹 (DB Group)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDB생명 is a subsidiary of DB Group, a major Korean conglomerate (ko: 두바이그룹). The group includes DB손해보험 (non-life insurance), DB증권 (securities), DB자산운용 (asset management), DB저축은행 (savings bank), DB캐피탈 (capital), DB하이텍 (high-tech), DB글로벌칩 (global chip), DB Inc., DB월드 (Rainbow Hills), and DB커뮤니케이션즈 (communications). DB Group affiliation provides cross-selling opportunities, shared brand equity, and group-level synergies.
• Major Korean Banks (기업, 신한, 하나, 우리, 국민, SC, 농협, iM, 지방, 저축)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBancassurance partnerships with major Korean banks enable distribution of DB생명 insurance products through bank branches. Commission rates range from approximately 3.36% to 20.27% depending on the product and bank partner. Banks serve as important distribution channels for retirement pension and general insurance products.
• KB 국민카드 (신용카드대리점)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCredit card company insurance agency partnerships for distribution of health and dental insurance products. KB cards listed as a partner for products such as 백년친구 New 내가고른 건강보험 and 참 이로운 치아보험 through the credit card insurance agency channel.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• NH Life Insurance: Life insurer affiliated with Nonghyup/NH Financial Group; uses a comparable bancassurance-plus-agent mix to distribute whole life, health, and pension products in the Korean market.
• Shinhan Life Insurance: Captive life insurer of Shinhan Financial Group; mirrors DB Life's bancassurance-led model across Shinhan Bank's branch network, with overlapping protection and retirement-pension offerings.
• Kyobo Life Insurance: One of Korea's top three life insurers with a comparable mix of whole life, health, and retirement-pension products, supported by a similarly broad multi-channel distribution model including bancassurance and FP agents.
• Hyundai Marine & Fire Life Insurance: Korean life insurer offering protection, health, and annuity products; competes with DB Life in bancassurance and direct channels across overlapping customer segments.
• Hanwha Life Insurance: Major Korean life insurer competing across protection, health, and retirement products; operates through bancassurance, agent, and direct channels similar to DB Life.
• KB Life Insurance: Life insurer affiliated with KB Financial Group; relies heavily on KB Kookmin Bank bancassurance — directly comparable to DB Life's bank-distribution strategy and similar product portfolio.
• Mirae Asset Life Insurance: Direct competitor in the Korean life market with strong variable-insurance capabilities, leveraging Mirae Asset's asset-management expertise — directly comparable to DB Life's 변액보험 line.

Emerging players

• Prudential Life Insurance of Korea: Foreign-affiliated Korean life insurer competing in protection and retirement products; relevant comparable for DB Life's AI-led digital distribution and FP agent model among foreign peers.
• AIA Life Insurance Korea: Foreign entrant in the Korean life market with a strong agency-force model and digital health partnerships; comparable to DB Life as a multi-channel competitor with adjacent wellness-integration strategies.

Broad incumbents

• Samsung Life Insurance: The largest life insurer in South Korea and the market leader across whole life, health, and annuities — competing head-to-head with DB Life across product lines, bancassurance channels, and direct distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/DB%EC%83%9D%EB%AA%85
• Instagraminstagram.com/dblife_official

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DB Life